Wii U Digital Store = EA Origin?

Flaming Red Plumbobs! There’s a rumor going around that Nintendo’s Wii U Digital Store might be powered by Origin!!! It’s like a plague or something similar (Origin that is). Be afraid… be very afraid!!!

Let me just say at the outset: the foundation for this rumor is incredibly shaky. Nintendo fan site Wii U Go (via Game Informer) has word from an alleged Electronic Arts insider that the publisher is “aggressively” working to make its Origin digital store the one that power’s the Wii U console. Those talks have apparently extended to Steam owner Valve as well, but the biggest push is supposedly coming from EA.

Now, to put all of this in proper perspective, let’s make it clear that the EA insider in this case is an intern who heard the information from a network engineer. This is about as far from the source as news can get. That said, it’s an interesting possibility being raised here.

Let’s face it: Nintendo doesn’t have the best track record these days of keeping up with the needs of the so-called “hardcore” gamer. The Wii’s lack of HD support continues to be a barrier for many serious gamers, something that the Wii U will correct. The thing that many industry observers note, however, is that the real battle in the next console generation will likely be waged online, in the social/community space.

1 Comment

You’d figure….since it’s Nintendo they’d be the ones taking control. I find it really hard to believe that they’ll outsource this (then again, they may – I haven’t exactly been keeping up with gaming news).